EU guidelines on death penalty
SUMMARY OF:
Political and Security Committee — EU guidelines on death penalty — Common guidelines
SUMMARY
WHAT DO THESE GUIDELINES DO?
They create an operational tool to be used by the EU towards working to abolish the death penalty across the globe. In non-EU countries where the death penalty still exists, the EU urges them to restrict and reconsider the use of it.
They form an integral part of the EU’s action plan for human rights and democracy.
KEY POINTS
BACKGROUND
The EU considers the death penalty to be a serious violation of human rights and human dignity. No compelling evidence exists to show that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime. Moreover, it can lead to the killing of innocent people (should verdicts be overturned).
The EU advocates a ban on the death penalty as a first step towards abolition. The United Nations General Assembly passed resolutions on this in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012, which has built momentum worldwide.
ACT
Political and Security Committee — EU guidelines on death penalty — Common guidelines, 12 April 2013
last update 07.03.2016